Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Top Stories September 30th

Man Convicted in Death of Columbus-native

9/30/09 - A former handyman was found guilty yesterday of killing a Columbus native and six others at a suburban Chicago restaurant in 1993. The jury deliberated two hours before convicting 37-year-old James Degorski. He's the second man found guilty of storming into a Brown's Chicken restaurant in Palatine Illinois, shooting-and-stabbing owners Richard and Lynn Ehlenfeldt and five employees, and leaving their bodies in a walk-in freezer. Besides being a Columbus native, Richard Ehlenfeldt was an aide to former Wisconsin Acting Governor Martin Schreiber in the 1970's. Degorski was convicted even though there was no physical evidence linking him to the murder spree. Prosecutors said he planned the slayings because quote, "He wanted to do something big." The jury must now decide if Degorski will get the death penalty. His high school friend, Juan Luna, got life in prison after he was convicted in 2007.

Domestic Violence Homicides On Pace To Exceed 2008

9/30/09 - Domestic violence deaths are on the rise in Wisconsin. The state’s Coalition Against Domestic Violence released a report Tuesday that says 46 people were killed in domestic violence incidents last year. The coalition said 10 people committed suicide last year during incidents in which 36 others were killed. The report also said 18 Wisconsin counties had domestic violence deaths in 2008. Milwaukee County had the most with 11 deaths. Dane County, which includes Madison, had the next highest total with five. Fifteen other counties had one apiece, including Columbia County where 25-year-old Rebecca Weisenberger was killed by her fiancé last November.

Columbus EMS District Hammering Out Details

9/30/09 - Representatives from the City and Townships in the Columbus area met again Monday to discuss formation of a new EMS District. The City of Columbus has already approved a two-year contract with LifeStar Ambulance to provide an upgraded paramedic level of service starting on January 1st of 2010. The Town of Fountain Prairie has recently joined the six townships already in the Columbus EMS group enlarging the emergency response area. Steve Rubert of the Town of Fountain Prairie said forming the new EMS District would save money by spreading EMS costs over a larger population. Representatives from the towns of Calamus, Columbus, Elba, Fountain Prairie, Hamden, Portland and York have been meeting with Columbus Council Member Bill Bruns to draft bylaws and inter-municipal agreement documents necessary to become an EMS District.

Krohn Charged With OWI Injury

9/30/09 - A Madison man, who injured two people in a drunken driving accident, entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors yesterday. 27-year-old Neil Krohn pleaded “no contest” to a misdemeanor charge of OWI Causing Injury and had three other misdemeanors dismissed. On February 21, Krohn was traveling southbound on Highway 26 in the Town of Clyman when he crossed the centerline and struck a northbound vehicle head-on. The driver of the other vehicle was pinned and her passenger was injured. Krohn’s blood alcohol level was said to be (.142) point one-four-two, which is nearly twice the legal limit. Krohn was sentenced to 120 days in jail and had his license revoked for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in fines, court costs and restitution.

Charges Filed In Chase

9/30/09 - A Waupun man accused of leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit has been charged with Fleeing an Officer. David A. Johnson reportedly fled when authorities attempted to pull him over. Police gave chase as Johnson headed out of the city towards Brownsville at more that 100-miles-per-hour. Police quickly called off the pursuit. The 21-year-old was found a few minutes later in a ditch near the intersection of Highway 49 and Shamrock Road. Johnson was uninjured and taken into custody. He made his initial appearance in Dodge County court Monday.

Oakfield Referendum In November

9/30/09 - Voters in the Waupun and Randolph School District’s won’t be the only ones heading to the polls on November 3rd to vote on a referendum. Residents in the Oakfield School District will also consider a referendum that would allow the district to exceed its revenue caps by a total of $2.6-million over the next four years. District Administrator Joe Heinzelman says they are simply asking to continue to exceed revenue caps for another four years. In 2006, voters approved a referendum that allowed the district to exceed its caps by $600,000 a year. Heinzelman says they are asking for the same amount the first two years and $700,000 a year the final two years.

NRB Lauds Horicon Friends Group

9/30/09 - The state’s Natural Resources Board recently accepted a nearly $2-million donation from the Friends of Horicon Marsh to help pay for their new facility. The project, which was first visualized 18 years ago, has been completed and features an auditorium, high-tech audio visual center, and two classrooms with lab space for hands-on experiences. The Friends Group raised about $1.9-million to help fund the $5 million Education Center. On behalf of Wisconsin citizen’s, NCB Chair Christine Thomas lauded the group for its hard work and generous contribution.

Leaf Pick-Up Begins Monday in BD

9/30/09 - Leaf pick-up in Beaver Dam begins Monday. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says leaves -- along with lawn grass rakings resulting from leaf gathering, garden vines and stalks – may be placed in the terrace areas of the street edge in loose piles for collection by the Department of Public Works. Collection will continue through late November. Stoiser says yard waste cannot be placed in the street or gutter, or in any containers. Leaves, rakings and garden debris cannot be mixed with other forms of waste like brush or shrubbery cuttings. Stoiser says fruits, nuts and vegetables are not acceptable and should be disposed of as garbage. Beaver Dam’s Yard Waste Drop-Off site is located at 640 South Center Street. No waste of any kind will be allowed from outside the city.

Feingold In Waupun Monday

9/30/09 - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will hold two listening sessions in our area over the next week. The Democrat from Middleton will be at the Portage Junior High School in Columbia County on Saturday at 11:30am. On Monday, Feingold will be at the Waupun City Hall at 10:15am. The Senator says the listening sessions are part of his pledge to hear from constituents in all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties each year of his six-year term. The Dodge County visit will be Feingold’s 65th listening session this year and his 1217th since he was first elected in 1993.

Big Find at Goodwill Industries in Marshfield

9/30/09 - Two workers were going through clothing donations at Goodwill Industries in Marshfield when they got the shock of their lives. Len Nyen and Jerry Schmitz found just over 13-thousand-dollars in cash tucked in a shoe-box. There were three boxes inside, each filled with envelopes of money. Schmitz said his eyes got as big as tomatoes, and it left him speechless. As it turned out, a woman dropped off what she thought were the shoes last week. She never realized that her husband put the 13-thousand away a number of years ago, and never told her. Schmitz's been asked why he didn't pocket the money, but he said it never crossed his mind. He said that if he lost the cash, he'd hope the finder is honest enough to return it. Nyen and Schmitz said they met the woman after the money was given back - and she thanked them with a generous tip.

Lawmaker Trying to Save Newspapers

9/30/09 - A Wisconsin state lawmaker says he wants to save newspapers even though he admits to sometimes hating reporters. Democratic state Rep. Marlin Schneider, a 39-year veteran from Wisconsin Rapids, said Tuesday he's proposing a property tax break for newspapers even though "some days I hate your guts" and "you guys jerk me around all the time." Schneider says that rocky relationship will protect him from accusations that he's doing favors for the industry. He says it's all about preserving newspapers in a time of staff reductions, mergers and bankruptcies. There is no cost estimate yet on how much it would cost to allow newspaper buildings to be exempt from property taxes. Schneider says he has not consulted with any newspapers or industry groups.

Legislators to Consider Bill that Would Eliminate Lt. Governor and Secretary of State

9/30/09 - A Wisconsin Senate committee will consider a proposal today to eliminate the lieutenant governor and secretary-of-state's offices. Senate Republican Alan Lasee re-introduced the idea earlier this year in the form of a constitutional amendment. The lieutenant governor serves as the acting chief executive when the governor is out-of-state - and that person's next-in-line to assume the office should the governor depart in during a term. The secretary-of-state maintains the official acts of the Legislature, and places the state seal to all of the governor's official actions. The proposed amendment would have to be approved by the Legislature in two straight sessions, and then by the voters in a statewide referendum.

Focus on Energy Celebrates Milestone

9/30/09 - Wisconsin's resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy is celebrating a milestone. Focus on Energy says it has helped finance solar-electric generation projects that produce 2.5 megawatts of electricity. Spokeswoman Kelly Lang says it's enough to power about 350 homes a year and the production avoids having to burn more than 2,650 tons of coal at a coal-fired generator. Lang says Focus on Energy has helped fund 582 solar electric systems in Wisconsin, including the Town of Menasha's 28-kilowatt system and a 14.7-kilowatt project for the Navarino Nature Center near Shiocton. Lang says it took six years for Focus on Energy projects to reach 1 megawatt of solar-electric generation. She says it's taken less than two years to finance the next 1.5 megawatts as the renewable energy industry is booming.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Top Stories September 29th

Kaiser Charged In Teen Fatality

9/29/09 - A Beaver Dam teen has been charged in connection with a fatal accident from last year. Authorities say Dominick Kaiser was speeding when he lost control of his car on Shaw Hill Road at 3 o’clock on the afternoon of September 15. His passenger, 16-year-old Kristen Baade, was killed. According to the criminal complaint, Kaiser’s speed had reached a velocity of between 102mph and 129mph as his vehicle began its initial clockwise spin. After entering a ditch and striking a culvert, the Kaiser vehicle went airborne and split a utility pole in half while overturning, before eventually coming to rest on its roof. The 17-year-old told authorities that the hood of his vehicle had flown up, blocking his windshield and leading to his loss of control. Investigators say the car’s battery was too big and there was evidence that the hood was clamped down. Kaiser was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, because of two marijuana pipes that were allegedly recovered at the scene. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, if convicted on the felony charge of Homicide By Negligent Use of a Vehicle. A signature bond was set at $5000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 19, one week before Kaiser’s 18th birthday.

Charges Filed in Emmet Chase
9/29/09 - A Jefferson man is accused of leading deputies in Dodge County on a three mile, high-speed chase. Justin Frohmader is charged with a felony count of Fleeing and Eluding an Officer. According to the criminal complaint, the 28-year-old failed to pull over for a deputy in the Town of Emmet on Memorial Day weekend and sparked a chase that reached speeds in excess of 85mph before Frohmader lost control of his vehicle, left the roadway and stalled in a marshy field. He told officers he is bi-polar and was fighting with his wife and needed to be alone. This was the third time Frohmader has been charged in connection with a high speed chase. In 2004, Frohmader was sentenced to six months in jail. Last year, he was found “not guilty by reason of mental defect.” Frohmader faces a maximum penalty of three and-a-half years if convicted. A signature bond was set yesterday at $1000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month.

BD Man Accused of Drunk Driving Injury

9/29/09 - Charges have been filed against a Beaver Dam man accused of injuring a passenger in a drunken driving accident. Eric Girten is charged with OWI - Causing Injury related to a July 30 accident in the Town of Lowell. According to the criminal complaint, the 29-year-old missed a stop sign, ran off the road and went airborne before coming to rest in a field. Girten’s passenger sustained a deep laceration to his forehead. Girten was not located at the scene, but was tracked down a short time after the accident. He told officer that he was not drinking before the accident, but consumed a half-bottle of whiskey after the wreck. Girten’s blood alcohol level was reported to be point one-eight (.18) which is over twice the legal limit. He faces up to one year in the county jail if convicted.
WASD Sets Levy and Mill Rate

9/29/09 - Waupun School District residents can expect to see about a 4-percent increase in their tax rate for the 2009-2010 school year. With the 9.1-million dollar levy passed last night residents will pay $8.87 per $1,000 of assessed value for the portion of their school property tax. The total budget for the district is around 23.2-million-dollars. Despite protests from a Fox Lake area citizens group, the district also passed a resolution that will allow them to put the three elementary schools it closed earlier this year up for sale. The citizen’s group tried and failed to amend the motion to keep Fox Lake Elementary off the market until at least after the November 3rd referendum that will decide if they are allowed to detach from Waupun and join the Randolph School District. District officials expect all three schools to be on sale by the start of November.

Columbus School Board Lays Out Preliminary Budget Numbers

9/29/09 - Columbus School District taxpayers will be facing a 3% increase with a proposed $12.3 million dollar Budget for 2010. The School Board was given a range of suggested increases in the proposed levy and mil rate figures. Proposed budget scenarios resulted in a tax levies between $5.9 and $6.1 million dollars. The range for mil rates would be between $9.04 and $9.21 per thousand dollars. Budget decisions will be made at the Oct. 26th Annual meeting where the levy and mil rate are approved. The District’s “third Friday” counts resulted in a 7 student increase from 1,139 last year to 1,146 this year.

Wind Left Damage in its Wake

9/29/09 - The winds have died down for the most part in Wisconsin. There were still gusts of over 20-miles-an-hour in some places at five this morning. But that’s nothing compared to the 53-mile-an-hour winds that hit Door County yesterday. Trees and power lines were blown down in parts of Door and Fond du Lac counties. And there was at least some tree damage in Waukesha, Waupaca, and Dunn counties. The Wisconsin Public Service utility said 10-thousand customers lost their power yesterday in northeast and north central areas. Minocqua was the hardest hit, with over 33-hundred electric customers out. All service was expected to be restored by late last night.

More Information Released on Green County Death

9/29/09 - Green Lake County authorities have released more information about a two-car accident last weekend that led to the death of a 90-year-old Ripon woman. Sheriff’s officials say Vivian Schoor died from the injuries she suffered in the two-car crash at the intersection of County Highway V and Forest Ridge Road in the Town of Berlin. Her car failed to yield for the other. Also injured in the crash was 19-year-old Michael Jones of Berlin who was driving the other car. (KFIZ)

WSP Looking into Bizarre Accidents

9/29/09 - The State Patrol is still trying to find out why an Appleton man got into four crashes in seven minutes on a city street on Sunday. The driver, 23-year-old Kiriko Masasi, was still in critical condition yesterday at a hospital in Neenah. There have no citations or requests for charges made yet. Patrol lieutenant Nick Scorcio said alcohol is a possible factor, just because of how erratic the man was driving. But he would not talk about the evidence in that regard. Nor could he say how fast Masasi was going – but witnesses said he was “flying” down Outagamie County Double-“O” on Appleton’s north side. Officers said the car hit a guard rail, two vehicles at an intersection, a traffic standard, and then three oncoming vehicles – all in a stretch of four miles. A 29-year-old Appleton woman was hurt in the final crash, and she remained hospitalized in good condition yesterday.

Careless Smoker to Blame for Waupun Fire

9/29/09 - A small fire in Waupun last Thursday was caused by a careless smoker. The Waupun Fire Department was dispatched to a Wilcox Street apartment building for a fire that started on a second story balcony. Waupun Police were able to knock the fire down with a fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived. The resident told authorities that she was out on the deck about two hours prior to the fire smoking a cigarette. She threw the cigarette butt in a plastic pot that was about half full with dirt. The cigarette butt melted the plastic pot causing the fire. The fire burnt about a 2 foot by 4 foot section of the outer wall and burnt a small hole in the deck.

Milwaukee No Longer Among 10 Poorest Big Cities

9/29/09 - Wisconsin has the nation’s 13th lowest poverty rate among the 50 states, and the 12th lowest among children. That’s according to new figures from the U-S Census Bureau. An estimated 569-thousand Wisconsinites lived in poverty last year, or 10-point-four percent of the population. That includes 172-thousand kids, for a child poverty rate of just over 13-percent. The report also says Milwaukee is no longer one of the nation’s 10 poorest big cities. It ranks 11th, with just over 23-percent of its residents living below the poverty line in 2008. Officials are not sure what the figures really mean, because they were taken before the recession took hold.

Researchers Discuss Open Enrollment

9/29/09 - A new study tells Wisconsin public schools how to attract more students under the state’s open enrollment program. Researchers from U-W Whitewater says the keys are to spend more, offer more extra-curricular activities, and have a higher percentage of top-performing students. Wisconsin has had public school choice for about a decade. Each February, parents can apply to send their kids to any public school in the state – and those schools can take the youngsters if they have room and the kids provide their own transportation. The receiving district gets the student’s state aid – and that’s why you’ll hear some schools advertise during the open enrollment period.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Top Stories, September 27th

Wind Advisory Begins Tonight

9/27/09 - Wind gusts could reach 45 miles per hour by this evening as a front passes through the region. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for our area, starting at 10pm tonight and lasting until 7pm Monday. Low pressure dipping into the Great Lakes area will bring northwest winds between 20 and 30 miles per hour, with those 45 mile an hour gusts a real possibility.

Charges Filed In Horicon Pharmacy Break-In

9/27/09 - Two men accused of breaking into a pharmacy Thursday have been formally charged. 22-year-old Andrew W. Stockwell of Milwaukee and 33-year-old Nathan G. Davis of Beaver Dam are each charged with a felony count of Burglary and a misdemeanor count of Criminal Damage to Property. In addition, Davis is charged with two felony bail jumping charges. According to Horicon Police Lt. Adrian Bump, officers responded to an interior motion alarm at the Marshland Pharmacy 620 Washington just after 3am Thursday morning. Upon arrival, the responding officer saw a male subject armed with a hammer run from the store. After a brief foot chase, Davis was taken into custody. The officer returned to the store and found a second person attempting to leave with a large duffel bag filled with stolen prescription narcotics. Stockwell was allegedly trying to crawl out through the broken out glass doors at the front of the store; he was taken into custody without incident.

Phony Bomb Threat At Milwaukee Pharmacy

9/27/09 - A man uses a fake bomb to steal oxycodone from a Milwaukee hospital pharmacy. It happened last Thursday at St. Francis Hospital. Witnesses say the suspect carried a coffee can inside. It apparently had some wires showing. He left it on the pharmacy counter. After the suspect left with the oxycodone, the area around the pharmacy was evacuated and the police bomb squad determined the device was harmless. Milwaukee cops say they have a possible license plate number from the thief's getaway car to work with. They say they are searching for the suspect now.

Sewer Projects Moving Forward

9/27/09 - The Beaver Dam Common Council this past week approved plans to move forward with several resolutions that pave the way for major upgrades and expansions of the city’s wastewater treatment facility. Beaver Dam was awarded $20 million in stimulus money last month and the plans are to expand their outdated wastewater treatment plant and incorporate green technology into the upgrade. Alderpersons approved a professional services contract with Applied Technologies for construction services at a cost of $964,000. The contract for the actual construction was awarded to low-bidder C.D. Smith of Fond du Lac, whose total base bid was $16.8 million. Half of the $20 million is an outright grant while the other half is a low-interest, tax-free loan. The plan will allow the city to pre-treat waste from Kraft Foods and convert it to biogas which will be used to generate electricity, saving the city about a quarter million dollars a year in electricity costs. In addition, Alliant Energy will buy surplus electricity from the city, estimated at another quarter million dollars annually. The project should be complete by the end of next year.

$100 Million Marquette U Project Finalized

9/27/09 - Marquette University is moving forward on its plans for a 100 million dollar College of Engineering building complex. School officials are planning to break ground on the first phase next spring. Two buildings will be constructed near the southwest corner of West Wisconsin Avenue and Milwaukee's North 16th Stret. Marquette already has 68 million dollars in pledges and the fundraising isn't finished yet. The second, larger building would come later, and would be connected to the first.

Doyle Defends Bicha

9/27/09 - Wisconsin's governor says Department of Children and Families Secretary Reggie Bicha is getting on top of a program that has been troubled for a long time. Doyle calls criticisms of Bicha's job performance "ridiculous." There have been some changes. The administrator of the Division of Early Care and Education resigned his post last week. Dan Harris left after the state made a 25 thousand dollar payment to a childcare provider whose license had been taken away. Doyle expressed anger over that payment Friday. He says Bicha is working hard to bring order to a bad situation which has developed over many years.

Deer Hunting Expansion Possible

9/27/09 - Should Wisconsin's deer hunting season be lengthened? The Department of Natural Resources plans to hold a series of public hearings on the question next month. DNR staff has suggested a 16-day firearms deer season instead of the traditional nine days. They say that would help keep the state's growing deer herd in check. The new hunt would start two Saturdays before Thanksgiving, running through the Sunday after the November holiday. If the board hears enough support, the new plan could start in 2010 after approval.

La Crosse Family Goes To Pot

9/27/09 - A La Crosse family is accused of selling marijuana to people, including high school students. Four members of that family have been arrested, including the 55 year old dad, his 47 year old wife, a 17 year old son and 16 year old daughter. The family members face possible charges of marijuana possession, with the intent to deliver, and possessing drug paraphernalia. Officers say they have taken five ounces of marijuana from the family home, as well as five guns.

Seatbelt Enforcement Nets Weed Eater

9/27/09 - The stop was made because a state trooper saw the people in a car weren't wearing safety belts. The charge escalated when the trooper says he saw 18 year old Jamie Salonen moving suspiciously. He says she had green stuff around her mouth and lips, and there was marijuana all over her side of the car. Salonen is accused of trying to ease the pot when the car in which she was riding was pulled over. The trooper says the teenager was surprised when she was arrested, saying all she did was, quoting here, "eat some weed.

Bird Lovers Festival Next Weekend

9/27/09 - Bird lovers descend on the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area a week from today for the annual festival. It's timed to coincide with the fall migration of thousands of sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, ducks and geese. The 27th annual Wildlife Festival is scheduled for October 4th, north of Grantsburg. Visitors are being told them might spot eagles, hawks and deer this time of the season. The free festival will include seminars and demonstrations on wolves, what wild plants that are edible and how to identify prairie plants yourself.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Top Stories September 26th

FL Council to Reconsider Tabled Motion

9/26/09 - A tabled motion to award a bid on an equalization bid will be reconsidered by the Fox Lake City Council on Monday afternoon. The city is under a court order from the state to upgrade their wastewater treatment system to avoid bypassing sewage during times of heavy rain, like they did in 2004 and 2008. At a special council meeting earlier this month a group of citizens asked that the city attempt to reopen negotiations with the Department of Justice based on the current economic times. The group and the council got together Thursday night to put together possible options to avoid building the basin, which is projected to cost between one-point-two and one-point-four million dollars. They’ll be meeting again on Wednesday but in order to be eligible for grant and loan money the city must award the contract and have all of its paperwork into the DNR by October 1st. Officials say the contract will be contingent on getting the money.

Barrett to Discuss Possible Governor Bid with Family

9/26/09 - It will be a family decision. As the pressure mounts on Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, he says he will consult with his family members before making an final decision about running for Wisconsin governor as a Democrat. Barrett says he's working on the job he loves -- Milwaukee mayor. He says he's going to sit down with the family and have what he calls a very private conversation about a very public job. Barrett is the choice of many Wisconsin Democrats after Congressman Ron Kind announced he wouldn't be a candidate.

Pressure Mounting on Wood to Resign

9/26/09 - Governor Jim Doyle says state Representative Jeff Wood needs to think about his future. Wood was arrested last week on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. That's the second time Wood has been arrested for the crime in less than a year. The governor says if Wood won't make the decision, his constituents will. Assembly Republican Steve Nass has called on Wood to resign. He says Wood's conduct is bringing disrepute to the Assembly and to the people of Wisconsin. Wood told a Chippewa Falls newspaper he has checked into an inpatient treatment program in Minneapolis.

Task Force to Track Down Ex-Convicts for DNA

9/26/09 - A former top official with the Madison Police Department will head a task force tracking down four thousand felons who need to give the state a DNA sample. Chuck Cole was an assistant police chief. His group will conduct its business a lot like another task force of retired detectives which track down sex offenders not on the state registry. State law requires the corrections department to take a DNA sample from every convicted felon in Wisconsin prisons. A recent review found that at least 12 thousand of those felons didn't have samples in the statewide database.

Acker Plea Deal Could Happen Next Week

9/26/09 - A plea deal could be finalized in court next week for a former suburban Milwaukee swimming coach accused of molesting numerous boys. 62-year-old Daniel Acker is due in court on Monday. He has pleaded innocent to felony charges for the alleged sexual assaults of two boys. Authorities said they believe Acker molested a number of other children over a period of years – but the statute-of-limitations and other factors prevented them from filing the charges they wanted. Acker was charged with the two molestations in April. Officers said Acker told them 16 years ago that he made advances to a 17-year-old boy who was living with him.

First Domino Transplant in State

9/26/09 - It's called a "domino" transplant. Surgeons at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison have performed the state's first organ-switching transplant. Three teams worked more than a dozen hours on two patients. Joe Stoikes got the liver of a dead organ donor because he suffered from a potential fatal genetic condition. His liver was transplanted to Eino Ahlgren of Waukesha. Doctors say Ahlgren could show symptoms of the disease Stoikes had, but that won't happen for at least 20 years. Ahlgren is 58 years old. Both patients could be released to go home this weekend.

Green Bay Prisoners Rack Up Big Phone Bills

9/26/09 - The bars on a jail cell evidently don't always stop criminal enterprise. Investigators say more than a dozen Brown County inmates may have been part of a phone scam costing the victims thousands of dollars. There could be criminal charges on the way. Investigators say they're still counting the number of calls and victims, but one bill was for 24 hundred dollars. The inmates are accused of using software to make thousands of collect calls, charging them to five local law offices and a half-dozen county department offices. Brown County uses a private phone company. It says it has fixed the software problem.

Last Day for Some Harley Workers

9/26/09 - It was a somber day at the Harley-Davidson distribution center in Franklin Friday. No surprise, but 126 workers there were on their last day on the job. That plant will shut down by the end of this year. The lost jobs are a part of Harley's plan to cut more than a thousand positions, about half in the Milwaukee area. The Franklin operation opened a dozen years ago.

Old-Time Gathering Today

9/26/09 - The Old time Gathering in being held today. The event, now in its eleventh year, features hands-on, olde-thyme arts and crafts and other wholesome family activities celebrating America’s pioneering heritage. In addition to old-time music, dancing and food, the Old Time Gathering this year will feature an educational petting zoo, birds of prey with Barb Harvey, antique engines and tractors, a buckskinner’s encampment and a farmers market. The Old Time Gathering will be held from 9 am until 4pm today at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. Admission is free.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Top Stories, September 25th

Man Killed in Rollover Accident

9/25/09 - Yesterday’s foggy weather is thought to have been a contributing factor in a one-vehicle rollover that killed a man near Fort Atkinson. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department says at 6:41 a.m. they received a call from a citizen reporting an accident on North Shore Road, four-tenths (.4) of a mile west of Burnham Road in the town of Sumner. Med Flight was called in but was unable to land because of the poor weather conditions. The initial investigation shows the man was driving his SUV east on North Shore Road when he lost control of the vehicle going around a curve. The vehicle flipped crushing a parked vehicle before coming to rest on the passenger side. The driver sustained a number of injures but authorities have not released any details. The name of driver is not being released pending notification of family members.

Arrests Made At Pharmacy Crime Scene

9/25/09 - Horicon Police arrested two men who broke into a pharmacy early yesterday morning. According to Lt. Adrian Bump, officers responded to an interior motion alarm at the Marshland Pharmacy 620 Washington just after 3am. Upon arrival, the responding officer saw a male subject armed with a hammer run from the store. After a brief foot chase, Nathan G. Davis was taken into custody. Bump says the officer returned to the store and found a second person attempting to leave with a large duffel bag filled with stolen prescription narcotics. Andrew W. Stockwell was trying to crawl out through the broken out glass doors at the front of the store; he was taken into custody without incident. Both subjects are currently being held in the Dodge County Jail on burglary charges.

Burglary at Persha Equipment

9/25/09 - The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an equipment theft from a Mayville-area business. Authorities say two lawn tractors and two trailers were stolen from Persha Equipment on Highway 33 late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. No arrests have been made but authorities are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dodge County Sheriffs Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

Man Arrested for Using Stolen Check

9/25/09 - A 20-year-old man was taken into custody early this morning after he allegedly used a stolen check to buy items at a town of Beaver Dam business. Beaver Dam authorities say they took a report of a stolen check book. A check from that account was then allegedly used by 20-year-old Adam Krisher to purchase items from the Kwik Trip at 1200 Madison Street. Krisher was taken into custody for Felony Forgery, Bailjumping, and was cited for theft. He’s currently being held in the Dodge County Jail.

High Risk Traffic Stop Results in Arrest

9/25/09 - Authorities made a high risk traffic stop in Randolph Wednesday night that led to the arrest of a 49-year-old Beaver Dam man. Randolph police say they responded to a report of a man who was threatening people with a gun. They say the man was upset after his wife came home intoxicated and with minor cuts to her face. He allegedly called the man who gave here a ride home and threatened to kill him before calling the bar and threatening a bartender. As authorities were taking the complaint the man showed up in a vehicle. Because of the gun threats police initiated a traffic stop with guns drawn. Officials checked the vehicle but didn’t find any weapons. While being put through a field sobriety test the man became combative and started fighting with officers, who then used a Taser gun to get him under control. The man was taken to jail and faces a number of charges.

Kind Won’t Run for Governor

9/25/09 - Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s advisors say he’ll decide by early October whether he’ll run for governor next year. That’s after Congressman Ron Kind of La Crosse said yesterday he would not seek the Democratic bid to replace outgoing Governor Jim Doyle. Instead, he’ll run for his eighth term in the House, amid reports he was pressured to do so by national Democrats who feared losing the House seat to Republicans. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said an internal poll showed that relatively few Wisconsinites know Kind. State Senate Republican Dan Kapanke of La Crosse is running for Kind’s House seat, and he said yesterday he’ll stay in the race. He said he expected to run against Kind all along.

Legislator Arrested For OWI Again

9/25/09 - For the second time in less than one year, State Representative Jeff Wood of Bloomer has been arrested for driving while intoxicated. A state trooper stopped the independent lawmaker’s vehicle Wednesday night on Interstate-39 just west of Wausau, after a report that he was driving erratically in Portage County. Last December, Wood was arrested in Columbia County for his third O-W-I, and possession of marijuana after allegedly crashing into a highway sign near Portage. On Wednesday, a witness reportedly saw Wood’s vehicle hit a curb – and nearly strike another vehicle. The report said Wood claimed he was trying to find a spot on a map at the time. The arresting officer said the 40-year-old Wood appeared sleepy, but denied taking medication or alcohol. A search turned up an anxiety medication called Lorazepam. Officers later quoted him as saying he took six pills yesterday, double the prescribed dosage – and he took two doses of cough syrup in a three-hour period.

Heart of Beaver Dam Tour Saturday

9/25/09 - The Dodge County Historical Society is offering three narrated bus tours of Beaver Dam tomorrow. The tour guide is long-time board-member Pat Lutz, who has conducted the tours on select occasions since Beaver Dam’s sesquicentennial in 1991. Lutz says the tour begins and ends at the Dodge County Historical Society, which is located at an intersection he refers to as the Times Square of Beaver Dam. He says at first he was worried that he wouldn’t be able to present a program that would offer anything new to life-long residents, but he says he quickly learned that even the most-knowledgeable native residents were able to take something away from the tour. The bus tours are scheduled for 9am, 11am and 2pm Saturday. There will also be an open house at the Historical Society that afternoon to recognize Mary Beth Jacobsen, who recently retired from the museum after five years as curator, and Pat Lutz, a long-time board member who also recently retired and is moving to New York.

Mark of the Beast Challenge Considered

9/25/09 - A judge will wait to make a ruling on a challenge by Amish farmers to the constitutionality of Wisconsin’s Premise Registration law. Clark County Circuit Court Judge Jon Counsell heard a full day of testimony Wednesday. Under questioning by an attorney representing the farmers, Noah Schwartz, an Amish church bishop, said Premise ID could be a forerunner to the Mark of the Beast. And, Schwartz said, the law represented a shift of people’s trust from God to government. The law requires properties that have livestock be registered with the Department of Agriculture. Judge Counsell did not issue a ruling. He gave the farmers 30 days to submit a brief. Clark County District Attorney Darwin Zwieg will then have 30 days to respond. The time limits will begin when the court reporter finishes the transcript, so it’s safe to assume a ruling could be months away.

Vehicle Registrations Up in August

9/25/09 - “Cash for Clunkers” resulted in a 39-percent boost in Wisconsin’s new vehicle registrations last month. That’s according to the industry consulting firm of Cross-Sell. It said over 23-thousand new cars and light trucks were registered last month, up from 17-thousand the previous August. But August was not necessarily that big of a sales month, because there was a lag time between the day a person drove off with a new car – and the day it was registered with the government. Meanwhile, J-D Power and Associates expects a big drop in new vehicle sales for September. It predicts a 24-percent decline nationally. J-D Power blames reduced buying incentives and low inventories by dealers. Even with “Cash for Clunkers,” yesterday’s report said Wisconsin vehicles were still down 20-percent for the first eight months of the year.

Patients of Domino Transplant Doing Well

9/25/09 - Two patients at U-W Hospital in Madison are recovering, after they received Wisconsin’s first domino transplant. In a 12-hour operation this week, Joe Stoikes of Madison received a matching liver from a deceased donor – and Stoikes’ liver was then given to Eino Ahlgren of Waukesha. Both men are doing well. Stoikes is expected to go home today, and Ahlgren could be released during the weekend. The domino procedure has only been done about 100 times over the past 13 years. Stoikes needed a new liver because he has a rare genetic condition called F-A-P. Ahlgren’s liver was about to fail because of a long-time hepatitis infection. Doctors say he’ll be okay with Stoikes’ liver, even with Stoikes’ genetic condition. Without the new liver, Ahlgren might have lived for only another year or two. The head of the U-W liver transplant program, Doctor Anthony D’Alessandro, said the 58-year-old Ahlgren could get symptoms of F-A-P, but not for 20-to-30 years. And even then, it’s expected to be so mild that no treatment would be necessary.

Northern Wisconsin Astronaut Heading to Space for 3rd Time

9/25/09 - An astronaut from northern Wisconsin will begin his third trip in space next Wednesday. Jeffrey Williams of Winter will board a Soyuz rocket which will blast off from a desert base in Kazakhstan. Two days later, they’ll get to the International Space Station, where Williams will spend his second six-month tour of duty. He says the isolation of Earth’s orbit is made easier by contact with his family in Houston – and from reading Bible passages. His favorite verse is from the book of Job, and it reads: “He hangs the Earth on nothing.” Williams says it dispels old myths that the Earth was flat, suspended, or sitting on top of pillars. After orbiting the Earth many times, Williams says he can truly attest that the Earth hangs on nothing.

Buy Local Buy Wisconsin Program Grants

9/25/09 - Wisconsin residents are getting more time to apply for state grants for projects that promote the state’s food products. The agriculture department says the deadline is now October seventh at four p-m to apply for funding under the “Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin” program. Ag secretary Rod Nilsestuen says the goal is to get more of Wisconsin’s food dollars spent on locally-made products. Last year, 94 groups and individuals applied for a total of 225-thousand dollars in grants – and seven projects shared the money. They included a regional nourishment program in northwest Wisconsin, produce auctions in central areas, and a restaurant promotion in Metro Milwaukee.

“Over the Limit, Under Arrest” Campaign Nets 1,200 Drunk Drivers

9/25/09 - Over 12-hundred people in Wisconsin were arrested for drunk driving in the state’s recent crackdown. The “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” campaign lasted 17 days from late August through Labor Day. The D-O-T said the effort resulted in almost 53-thousand traffic citations and warnings. Over nine-thousand of those were for speeding, and over five-thousand citations were given to those not wearing their seat belts. The campaign also netted some criminal arrests. Four-hundred people were arrested on outstanding warrants. Over 200 got picked up for drug offenses, and there were 65 felony arrests. The D-O-T said 27-hundred officers from 320 agencies took part in the “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” campaign. State Patrol Superintendent David Collins said the goal was to get people to drive more responsibly.

Van Hollen and Raemisch to Meet about Missing DNA Samples

9/25/09 - State Attorney General J-B Van Hollen and Corrections’ Secretary Rick Raemisch will meet this morning to talk about the 12-thousand D-N-A samples missing from a police data-bank. Convicted felons have been required since 2000 to give authorities their D-N-A to help officers investigate crimes both old-and-new. But it was learned last week that about 10-percent of felons never had their D-N-A put into a data-base that totals 128-thousand samples. The problem was uncovered when police could not identify the D-N-A of a man suspected of killing nine women in Milwaukee since 1986. A tip recently led officers to Walter Ellis, who has pleaded innocent to seven of the killings. He reportedly left a D-N-A sample in 2001 while in prison for another offense – and it never got into the database.

Kelm Gives Verbal Commitment to UWM

9/25/09 - Randolph High School senior Kyle Kelm says he’ll play his college basketball at U-W Milwaukee. The 6-9 forward gave a verbal commitment to the Panthers, after he made an official visit to the campus last week. Randolph coach Bob Haffele said Milwaukee has a program that fits Kelm’s style – and it’s a good thing for him to stay closer to home. Kelm averaged 17 points and six rebounds for Randolph last year. But he broke his right foot while playing in A-A-U league in May. He had surgery in August, and he’s expected to recover in time for the next season which begins in November.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Top Stories, September 24th

Unemployment Dips Below Double Digit Peak

9/24/09 - After posting double digit numbers last month, the unemployment rate in Dodge County has dropped. The jobless rate for August was at 9.5% down nearly a full percentage point from July but twice what it was last year at this same time. Columbia County dipped three-tenths of a percent to 7.7%. Jefferson County dropped two-tenths to 8.8%. Fond du Lac County is also at 8.8% after a half-point decline. Washington County is at 9.1%. According to the Department of Workforce Development, all but three counties in the state saw a decline in unemployment filings last month. Secretary Roberta Gassman calls that an “encouraging sign that the economy is improving.” Dane County continues to have the lowest rate in the state at 5.8%. Menominee County has the highest at 17.8% while Rock County is a distant second at 12%. Statewide, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate went down four-tenths from July to 8.4%, well below the national average of 9.6%.

Plea Agreement For Church Burglar

9/24/09 - A former Beaver Dam man who broke into a church and two businesses last fall has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. Trevor Waller pleaded “no contest” to a felony Burglary charge related to a break-in at the First Lutheran Church of Beaver Dam on October 20. In exchange, the 28-year-old had a misdemeanor charge of Criminal Damage to Property, and two other felony Burglary charges dismissed but read into the record. Authorities heard about the First Lutheran burglary while they were one block down the street at the United Methodist Church investigating a similar break-in. There have been no charges filed yet in connection with that incident. Authorities found blood and fingerprint evidence at First Lutheran and connected it to Waller, who was also charged, along with two others, with break-ins at Kelm Painting and Beaver Plumbing around the same time. In July, Tabatha Pellett pled to reduced charges for her role in one of the business break-ins and was sentenced to probation. Kurtis Billings has a Plea and Sentencing Hearing scheduled for next month. Judge Brian Pfitzinger ordered a pre-sentencing investigation for Waller, which will be set at a later date.

Swine Flu Update

9/24/09 - Six people in Wisconsin have been hospitalized this month with the H-1-N-1 swine flu virus, and there have been no reports of deaths. State health officials say flu cases have been higher than normal for September, and many incidents have been in the southern half of the Badger State. The state’s health agency is rounding up information about public flu clinics where people can get the H-1-N-1 vaccine once it’s available. Dodge County Public Health Officer Jody Langfeldt says she will release the information as soon as she gets it. Wisconsin has had eight deaths from the virus this year. Another 239 have been hospitalized.


Gun Deer Season Expansion Proposed

9/24/09 - The idea of a longer deer hunting season in Wisconsin took one step forward Wednesday. The Natural Resources Board agreed to hold public hearings to find out what people think. D-N-R staff members have proposed a 16-day gun deer season instead of the traditional nine days. It would help keep the state’s growing deer herd in check, after the board scrapped the controversial Earn-a-Buck program earlier this year. The proposed 16-day gun hunt would begin two Saturdays before Thanksgiving, and run through the Sunday after the holiday. It would take effect in 2010 if the board eventually agrees. The public hearings on the idea will be held next month around the state. The closest one to our area will be in Madison on October 21.

Beaver Dam Film Festival Planned

9/24/09 - Dodge County will have its first ever film festival later this fall. The Beaver Dam Area Arts Association is hosting the event and Executive Director Karla Jensen says they are looking for amateur film makers from in and around the county to submit their original movies. Jensen says for those who new to film making, the Arts Association will offer a 4-session course that covers all aspects of the filmmaking process. She says technology has gotten to the point where anyone with a personal computer and digital camera can write, produce and edit their own movies. After the class wraps up, students will have about a month to make their own two-minute film. “Take One,” the Arts Associations film making course, will be held on four consecutive Thursday’s beginning October 15. And Jensen says you don’t have to take the class to submit a film to the festival; that is open to everyone. The Film Festival will have a public screening on Friday, December 4. Submission forms can be obtained through the Arts Association.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Top Stories September 23rd

Much Needed Rain Hits Area

9/23/09 - Fall officially arrived yesterday. And in Madison, and other parts of southern Wisconsin, a lot more than leaves tumbled to the ground. Wisconsin’s capital had three-and-two-thirds inches of rain – the wettest September day ever, breaking the old mark of three-point-four inches in 1874. Madison street crews got soaked while unclogging sewer drains during the big downpour. But it didn’t prevent streets and intersections from being flooded. The wastewater treatment plant in Beaver Dam is reporting we got 3.07-inches of rain on Tuesday after getting more than an inch on Sunday. And after the rain moved out, heavy fog moved in. Totals of three-inches were seen in other parts of Dane and Columbia Counties as well. The National Weather Service says it will be dry for the next couple days, and there’s another chance of rain and thunderstorms statewide on Friday.

BDPFC Advances Budgets

9/23/09 - The Beaver Dam Police and Fire Commission approved budgets for both departments last night. If approved by the council, the Police Department’s $2.5 million dollar budget would represent an increase of 3% over last year. The department is hoping to make some minor equipment purchases next year, like a video camera for the K-9 vehicle and four new light bars for squad cars. Chief Dale Boldt also included a letter with his budget requesting city officials set aside $5 million for the construction of a new police station. There is uncertainty with some of the numbers in the Fire Department’s proposed $1.8 million budget for 2010. Chief Alan Mannel says the numbers provided to him by administration for fringes and benefits were substantially higher than previous years and, if accurate, would represent an 11% increase over 2009. He will be sitting down with the Finance Director this week in hopes of identifying any possible errors. Mannel says his proposed budget should really about be 5% higher than last year. While that is still above the requested 3% increase, Mannel says the extra money is needed to address important transportation and safety needs including the purchase of turn-out gear and new hoses. All city budgets will be submitted to the Finance Director by weeks end and will then be forwarded on the Administrative Committee for debate before heading to the council floor for approval in November.

Columbia Co. Announces Free H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccinations

9/23/09 - The Columbia County Health Department has announced that free swine flu vaccination clinics will be held at schools throughout the county as soon as the shots become available. The state Department’s of Public Instruction and Health Services are actively encouraging county health departments to offer school-based clinics. Columbia County Public Health Officer Susan Lorenz says vaccinating children at school can help meet the demand for convenient, timely vaccination of school-aged children while decreasing the burden on local health care providers who may be busy treating those infected with the virus or seasonal influenza. School-based clinics for children in grades 5K thru 12 will be held during the school day in Columbus, Fall River, Lodi, Pardeeville, Portage, Poynette, Randolph and Rio. In addition, they will be holding school-based clinics in parochial schools including Columbus Peterson Elementary, Columbus St. Jerome’s, Columbus Wisconsin Academy, Columbus Zion Lutheran, Randolph Christian, and Pardeeville St. John’s. Lorenz says the health department will be contacting parents and sending them information about the vaccine, the disease, and the vaccination clinic. They will also be requesting that parents either provide or decline consent for the vaccine. There will be no cost for children to receive the H1N1 vaccine.

Meanwhile Dodge County, Public Health Officer Jody Langfeldt says she will be contacting schools in the next week to determine if they would be interested in hosting a free swine flu clinic for students. Langfeldt says some school officials have already indicated that they would be receptive to hosting clinics but expressed reservations about doing it during school hours. The vaccines are expected to be available around mid-October but Langfeldt says it may be the end of next month before the first clinics are held.

Horicon Awards Bids on Three Projects

9/23/09 - More than a million-dollars in bids were approved by the Horicon City Council to build a new well on property recently purchased near the high school. The city needed to approve the bids prior to October 1st so they can be eligible to receive possible grant funding for the projects. The council also awarded two other bids. The first is for about $547,000 for the complete reconstruction of Maple Street and other second was for $451,000 to relocate the Rice Street Lift Station. Clerk Treasurer Dave Pasewald says both of those projects are contingent upon the city gaining funding.

School Board in Horicon Holds Budget Hearing

9/23/09 - The Horicon School Board held their annual budget hearing Monday night. Superintendent Gary Berger says the $11.1 million dollar document has a current deficit of $42,600. Administrators and the school board have been working since last year to trim the budget by about $700,000. A failed referendum in April led to deep cuts in equipment, supplies and staffing. Berger attributes the most recent shortfall to a decrease in state aid. The mill rate is projected to increase 55 cents to $9.58 per $1000 of assessed value. The final calculations will be made in mid-October at which time the school board will consider the final budget. Berger says at that time they hope to have the budget balanced.

BDUSD Hires Company to Perform Facilities Maintenance Study

9/23/09 - The school board in Beaver Dam has approved hiring a company to perform a facilities maintenance study on the districts buildings. Superintendent Don Childs says Siemens Building Technology will come in and determine what needs to be done and then give the district a preliminary idea of what it may cost to fix it as well as a potential timeline. Siemens is doing the work free of charge with the idea that if the district goes through with the work they will use their services.

WI has 9th Highest Property Taxes

9/23/09 - The Tax Foundation says Wisconsin has the nation’s ninth-highest property taxes. The group quotes Census figures in listing Wisconsin’s median property tax at 29-hundred-63 dollars last year. That’s almost 11-hundred-dollars more than the national average. But it’s still less than half of the country’s highest median property tax – 63-hundred-dollars paid in New Jersey. The Tax Foundation also says Wisconsin pays the fourth-highest property tax as a percentage of a home’s value. The average Wisconsin tax is one-point-seven-one-percent of what a house is worth. Texas is the highest at one-point-seven-six. The average is point-nine-six.

Judge to Rule on “Premise ID”

9/23/09 - A judge’s decision is expected Wednesday on whether a Wisconsin law requiring livestock owners to register their properties is constitutional. Clark County Circuit Court Judge Jon Counsell will hear testimony. One of the litigants is among dozens of Old Order Amish farmers around the state that refuse to comply with Premise ID, saying it is the first step toward the eventual tagging of all animals - or the biblical “Mark of the Beast.” This is believed to be the first “test case” on mandatory premise ID in the state, if not the country. Clark County has dozens of farms that are reportedly not in compliance with the rule.

DNR Considering Longer Deer Hunting Gun Season

9/23/09 - The state Natural Resources Board will decide today whether to consider a longer deer hunting season in Wisconsin. D-N-R staff members are asking the board to take the first step, and hold eight public hearings next month on the question of extending the November gun deer season from nine days to 16. It now starts on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and the new proposal would have it starting a week earlier beginning in 2010. The longer gun season is one option for controlling the state’s deer herd. That’s after the board scrapped the controversial Earn-a-Buck program – in which hunters were required to shoot does before they could take trophy bucks.

Ellis Back in Court Today

9/23/09 - Alleged Milwaukee serial killer Walter Ellis is due back in court today. A judge is expected to decide if there’s enough to put the 49-year-old Ellis on trial on seven charges of murder and homicide. Prosecutors said the unemployed laborer stabbed-and-strangled seven female prostitutes between 1986-and-2007. Police said Ellis’s D-N-A was found on the seven women and two others. Defense lawyer Russell Jones says Ellis is innocent – and he wants new tests to see if the D-N-A on the victims actually belongs to his client.

Corrections Officials to Discuss DNA Samples

9/23/09 - State justice and corrections’ officials are planning to meet later this week, to talk about the D-N-A samples from 12-thousand convicted felons which never made it to the state’s data-base. Corrections’ secretary Rick Raemisch said his employees will personally deliver the samples they get to the State Crime Lab. And they want confirmation when the samples are added to the data-bank. Raemisch also said he was trying for days to meet with Attorney General J-B Van Hollen about the problem. Van Hollen says staffers from both agencies have been talking ever since the lost D-N-A samples were first reported last week. Since 2000, all convicted felons have been required to leave their D-N-A with the state so police can use them to check out leads for crimes. Meanwhile, the corrections’ agency continues to get felons who are not jailed to submit their D-N-A. Many are being ordered to do it at local sheriff’s departments.

Oshkosh Pastor Back from Iraq

9/23/09 - An Oshkosh pastor who’s back home from Iraq called his service a “painfully unique experience.” The Reverend Tim Routh of Calvary Lutheran Church said he helped and counseled both American troops and the military detainees they held at Camp Bucca. Routh spent 14 months in Iraq as a member of the Army Reserve’s 320th Military Police unit – the same one that took humiliating photos of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison a number of years ago. But now, Routh said the unit embraced a more kind treatment – and it brought tremendous results. He said they treated those in custody with dignity and respect, and he was surprised at the low rate of repeat offenders among the inmates they freed. Routh said most of the troops and prisoners he encountered had huge emotional swings – and the extreme heat, the long hours, and the separation from home made things even more difficult. Routh said it’s no joke what our troops are facing. Routh has been home for just over a month, but he said he spent time reflecting on his experiences before returning to his congregation last Sunday.

New Law Could Force Residents to Recycle Electronics

9/23/09 - It could soon be against the law to throw away computers, T-V’s, and other electronic devices. The Wisconsin Assembly voted 57-to-37 yesterday to make those manufacturers arrange to recycle their old products. They contain toxic chemicals, and the bill’s supporters say our groundwater would be protected by keeping them out of the trash. Neighboring Minnesota has a similar law. The Senate approved the bill earlier this year. But the Assembly has some changes which senators will have to ratify before the measure goes to the governor. Also, the Assembly voted 89-to-5 to ban the sale of products with mercury added – including thermostats – and there would be some exceptions.

Jewel Stalker on a Mission from God

9/23/09 - A Wisconsin man accused of stalking country singer Jewel claimed to be on a mission from God. That’s what Texas authorities said yesterday about 50-year-old Michael Kozelka of Townsend in Oconto County. He’s charged with felony stalking after he allegedly made two visits in two days to a ranch near Stephenville Texas owned by Jewel’s husband, rodeo champion Ty Murray. Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said Kozelka was found on the ranch September 14th and was told not to return. But the next day, Bryant said the man was seen at the ranch’s main house with a dog. He was said to be carrying a pocket knife, but he was calm and did not resist arrest. The sheriff did not say if Jewel or her husband were home at the time. And Bryant would not divulge the comments Kozelka made about Jewel and her husband. He’s in jail on a 30-thousand-dollar bond. Jewel, her husband, and Kozelka’s attorney have not commented. According to court records, a bank foreclosed on property Kozelka owned in Townsend last November, and it was sold last month.

Kindergarten Most Likely to Become Mandatory

9/23/09 - The Wisconsin Senate voted yesterday to make kids finish kindergarten before they can go to first grade. It’s optional now. But senators voted 17-to-15 to make it mandatory. The bill now goes to Governor Jim Doyle, after the Assembly passed the same requirement last week. All the yes votes came from Democrats. Republicans all voted no. The bill’s supporters say too many parents consider kindergarten to be like day care centers – and they’ll send their kids only when they feel like it, causing disruptions for both students and their teachers. But the bill’s opponents asked why the Legislature should mandate good attendance for kindergarteners because their parents make poor choices.


Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Top Stories, September 22nd

Language Set for Fox Lake Detachment Referendum

9/22/09 - The language for November’s referendum to determine whether Fox Lake can detach from the Waupun School District and join the Randolph district has been set. On their ballot, voters will be asked to vote yes or no to the following question. “Shall the territory located within the City of Fox Lake and the Township of Fox Lake which is presently a part of the Waupun Area School District be detached from the Waupun Area School District and attached to the Randolph School District effective July 1, 2010?” The detachment process began after Waupun voted to close three elementary buildings this past spring, including Fox Lake. The districts plan to hold public hearings next month so voters can hear what the financial impact of the detachment would be.

BDUSD Holds Public Hearing on Budget

9/22/09 - School officials in Beaver Dam plan to use about $350,000 of federal stimulus money to help them balance their $48.3-million-dollar budget for the 2009-2010 school year. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act required the funds to be used for specific programs. Business Services Director Andrew Sarnow says they’ll use the money on existing special programs. That will allow them to keep money they had previously committed to special education in their general fund and thereby increasing their revenues. Sarnow presented the budget last night informing the board there would a 5.1-percent increase in the mill rate, going up to $8.85 per $1,000 of assessed value. The board is expected to act on the budget during a meeting next month after they receive the final numbers on property values.

BD School Board Approves Graduation Date Change

9/22/09 - Seniors in the Beaver Dam School District will no longer be missing out on the last few days of classes. That comes after the school board last night approved changing the graduation date in 2011 to the Sunday following the last day of school. Administrators say the change is needed to maintain a learning environment. Last year the seniors were done with classes the Wednesday before graduation and teachers say once that happened the other kids in school “checked-out” mentally. The school board also set the 2010 graduation date at the high school for June 6th and at the alternative school for June 7th.

Architectural Class To Undertake BDPD Project

9/22/09 - Officials in Beaver Dam will get input from engineering students in moving forward with plans for a new police station on the former YMCA property. Mayor Tom Kennedy says the opportunity presented itself by chance as part of discussions related to the Weyco project. Bob Lemke, who is a partner on a Weyco project, is a professor of architectural engineering with the Milwaukee School of Engineering and he thought the project would be a perfect fit. He says the students will be divided into three groups and gain practical, real-life experience in construction management, structural engineering and mechanical design, among other things. The work of the students is not intended to replace the work of accredited architects but may offer a different perspective to decision makers. Final designs and models will be available by the time paid engineers begin to draw up their own plans this spring. Deputy Chief Dan Schubert says the fresh set of eyes will be welcome. The students will be designing a new police station from the ground up. The city, however, will be deciding in coming months if they will be building new or remodeling. The city’s Operations Committee last night approved the expenditure of $1500 for student materials.

Beaver Dam Approves Several Downtown Resolutions

9/22/09 - The Beaver Dam Common Council last night put into place more pieces of the downtown redevelopment puzzle. Alderpersons approved a pair of developers agreements related to the Weyco Shoe Factory and former Thomas Chevrolet properties. Weyco, which is in the process of being converted into the Beaver Dam Lake Historic Lofts, has been awarded $1.7 million in Department of Commerce grants. The resolution allows the city to act as a conduit in collecting the grant funding for redistribution to the developers. Across the street, Silverstone Partners was approved for $90,000 in city grants for construction of senior living apartments on the Thomas Chevrolet property. The money comes from the city’s recent settlement with landlord Pete Knaup. The city also agreed to move ahead with plans to use $117,000 in stimulus funds to clean-up leaking underground storage tanks in and around the Weyco site.

The council also awarded a contract to Ace Plastering of Beaver Dam for façade restoration on the sides of the buildings left exposed after this summer’s downtown demolition project. The $54,000 contract was the second lowest but city officials say Ace had a better warranty and more effective plans for dealing with crumbling bricks.

Finally, the project agreement for the planned 2013 reconstruction of Highway 33 was approved. The reconstruction will cost $3.7 million in state and federal dollars and another half million in local funds. It sets in stone plans to reduce Front Street from two-lanes to one, with left-hand turn lanes, a pedestrian island and parking on both sides of the street.

Number of BD Kids Living in BD has Doubled Since 2000

9/22/09 - The numbers of elementary kids that qualify for government lunch subsidies in the Beaver Dam School District have more than doubled since the year 2000. The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism said 36-and-a-half percent of elementary kids in the district qualified for free-or-reduced-price school lunches last year – up from around 17-percent in the year 2000. There were double digit increases in a number of other area districts as well including, Dodgeland, Fall River, Horicon, Randolph, Watertown, and Waupun. The smallest increase in our area was seen in Lomira where the number of kids qualifying has increased by five-point-six-percent since the beginning of the decade. Statewide, nearly 38-percent of elementary aged kids qualified for the lunches. Families-of-four making less than 28-thousand dollars a year qualify for free school lunches. Those same families making less than 40-thousand qualify for reduced-prized lunches.

Columbus Begins Search for Police Chief

9/22/09 - The Columbus Police and Fire Commission met last night a they begin to look for a new Police Chief. Notices have already been sent out and requests for applications are coming in. The Commission decided last night to keep current residency requirements in place as they search for the full time Department head. If the selection, interviews and background checks are completed on time, the selection of the Chief could come at the same time the Department begins moving to its new Ludington Street address in January.

Authorities Looking for Help in Finding Driver of Hit and Run in Waupun

9/22/09 - Waupun police are asking for help to find a hit-and-run driver who struck a boy on a city street yesterday and then fled the scene. The boy went home and told his mother about what happened. She called police and then took the boy for medical treatment. Police are looking for a white male in his teens who was driving a maroon or purple-colored Ford Taurus. The accident happened shortly after 5 p.m. in the area of North Madison and East Jefferson Streets. (KFIZ)

Man Found in Pewaukee Lake Identified

9/22/09 - A man found dead in Pewaukee Lake was the C-E-O of a marketing services company. An autopsy was planned to determine why 69-year-old Henry Teuteberg of Oconomowoc died. Police revealed his identity yesterday. A fisherman found Teuteberg’s body early Sunday at the end of fishing pier in about six-feet of water. Foul play is not suspected. Officials said there were no signs of physical trauma, and no indications of a robbery. Teuteberg was the head of Teuteberg Incorporated, a Wauwatosa marketing firm.

Corrections Department to Start Collecting Convicted Felons DNA

9/22/09 - Some of the convicted felons whose D-N-A never made it to a Wisconsin data-base are being ordered to give samples to their local sheriffs. The Justice Department said last week that 12-thousand convicts don’t have their D-N-A in the data-base – even though they’re required by law to do so. Authorities are first going after felons still under supervision but not in custody. State corrections’ officials say felons who don’t voluntarily give D-N-A samples can be held until they do. The Justice Department said about 10-percent of those felons don’t have samples on file. That was discovered after accused Milwaukee serial killer Walter Ellis provided a D-N-A sample in 2001 which never made it to the data-base.

Wisconsin has 5th Fewest Uninsured Residents

9/22/09 - New figures from the U-S Census Bureau show that about nine-percent of Wisconsin residents did not have health insurance last year. That’s consistent with other recent surveys. And Wisconsin has the fifth-lowest rate of uninsured residents in the country, tied with Iowa and Vermont. The annual Census survey showed that just over five-percent of Wisconsin’s kids were uninsured, while 12-percent of 18-to-64-year-olds lacked coverage. State health services secretary Karen Timberlake says all but two-percent of Wisconsinites can get health insurance from their employers, Badger-Care-Plus, or Medicare. Badger-Care-Plus is designed to cover all Wisconsin children – and it was expanded this year to include low-income adults without dependents. Allison Espeseth of the Covering Kids-and-Families’ group said over 67-thousand Wisconsin kids lack health coverage – and the recession could drive that number up

FDL Man Kills 30 Point Buck

9/22/09 - A 30-point buck may seem the stuff of legends, but not for a Fond du Lac bow hunter. Wayne Schumacher says he was in his tree stand west of Fond du Lac just before dusk Sunday when a huge buck walked underneath him. Through the leaves he could make out that it had a lot of points, but didn't get a chance to count them until his initial excitement died down. While registering it at Dutch's Trading Post yesterday Schumacher had several people recount and the consensus on the 225-pound deer is that it was indeed a 30-point buck. (KFIZ)

Monday, September 21, 2009

Top Stories September 21st

Weekend Accident Claim Three Lives

9/21/09 - Two women were killed and a man was injured when two vehicles collided head-on in Washington County. Sheriff's officials say a vehicle was traveling south in the northbound lane of Highway 144 Friday night and struck an SUV. 34-year-old Rachael Olson of Campbellsport was driving in the wrong lane and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. 60-year-old Bette Voeks of Farmington, who was a passenger in the SUV, was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Polk, where she was pronounced dead. Voeks 58-year-old husband was taken to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa.

Thirty-seven-year-old Lisa Venus of Hartford died when a car crossed the centerline on Highway 60 in Washington County Saturday afternoon and hit hers. The accident also sent her 10-year-old son Cole to Children's Hospital, and the other driver 44-year-old Kim Downer of West Bend to a Milwaukee Hospital. (KFIZ)

Scam Targets BDHS Athletics

9/21/09 - The Beaver Dam High School and Chamber of Commerce are warning the public of a scam involving a publishing firm seeking advertising money. The Chambers Executive Director Phil Fritsche says the con artists are with a company they call New Generations. The caller says they are working with the Chamber and the high school’s athletic department in selling advertising space to celebrate the success of the cross country team. Fritsche, and Athletic Director Bill Greymont, say neither the high school nor the chamber are in any way associated with New Generations and no one locally will benefit from the proceeds of the phony advertising campaign. Fritsche says both chamber and the high school initiate their own publications that always provide contact information for verification. Greymont says if you have any questions about the legitimacy of a solicitation, you should contact him at the high school. (885-7520 x2110).

Rockwell Sentenced in Manitowoc Burglary Case

9/21/09 - A 22-year-old Waupun man was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison after pleading no contest to a felony burglary charge. Dustin Rockwell admitted to authorities that he broke into a Two Rivers home this past January and stole a DVD player, die-cast NASCAR collectibles and four Budweiser mugs. The victim had been gone for four days in mid-January and returned home to find signs that his home and been broken into. The man later visited a pawn shop in Manitowoc where he found the items. An employee there identified Rockwell as the man that sold the items. According to the criminal complaint, Rockwell admitted to the burglary during questioning.

Still Searching for Answers in Pewaukee Lake Death

9/21/09 - Authorities are still investigating the death of a 69-year-old man found in Pewaukee Lake. A fisherman found the body yesterday morning near a public pier on the east side of the lake. Officials were not sure how long it had been there. Police said there were no visible signs of foul play. The victim’s name was not immediately released.

BDUSD to Hold Annual Budget Hearing Tonight

9/21/09 - The Beaver Dam School District will hold their annual budget hearing tonight at the Educational Service Center. The proposed $48.3M document would include a tax rate of about $8.85 per $1,000 of assessed value, an increase of 5.1-percent over last year. That means a person with property valued at $150,000 would pay around $1,330 for the school portion of their taxes. The budget hearing begins at 6 p.m. The regularly scheduled monthly meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Full Agenda for Beaver Dam Tonight

9/21/09 - After taking a week off for Labor Day, the Beaver Dam Common Council returns this evening with a full agenda featuring over two dozen ordinances and resolutions. Many of the items involve the downtown. The council will consider hiring MSA Professional Services as an environmental consultant in the removal of leaking underground storage tanks. The city has been awarded $117,000 in stimulus funds to address removal of possible contaminants in the downtown. The council will also consider a resolution considering the project plan for the newly created TIF District #4, which is located in the downtown area. And the council will also vote on developers agreements related to the old Weyco Shoe Factory property and the former Thomas Chevrolet property across the street. Also on the agenda tonight, a resolution to award a contract to Ace Plastering of Beaver Dam for façade improvements to the downtown buildings whose walls were left exposed after adjacent buildings were demolished. The Beaver Dam Common Council meets at 8pm tonight at city hall.

Columbus Council Asked to Prepare Early for James Street Reconstruction

9/21/09 - Columbus officials are getting ready to plan the replacement of James Street, the major east / west artery through the downtown. Although the projected construction is five years away, City Administrator Boyd Kramer and Mayor Bob Link are urging the Council to begin budget and policy talks on the project. Kraemer recently informed the Council that James Street – the route for highways 16 and 60 through Columbus – is approved for 2015 construction. Link asked the Council to look ahead at needs associated with the repair of the major thoroughfare, as there would be costs beyond the street and utility repairs that the City would have to face. The project will be on of the major discussion items as the council begins discussions on the 2010 budget during the first of four special meetings this Wednesday.

Impact of Mercury Marine Staying in FDL Being Felt

9/21/09 - Mercury Marine's decision to stay in Fond du Lac is beginning to have an impact on the Fond du Lac County economy. Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation President Brenda Hicks-Sorensen says she's talked with some businesses since union workers approved wage and benefit concessions and they started seeing some increased spending right away. She also says they are beginning to see some movement on development projects that were in a holding pattern while others waited to see the outcome of Mercury's decision. (KFIZ)

BDPD Releases Crime Statistics

9/21/09 - The Beaver Dam Police Department has released crime statistics for the month of August. According to the report compiled by Chief Dale Boldt, there were nine burglaries, of which one involved forcible entry. Four of the burglaries were residential while the other five were business related. There were 44 general thefts reported and 14 thefts from automobiles. The burglaries and thefts resulted in nearly $23,000 in stolen property. Beaver Dam police officers issued seven citations for Operating While Intoxicated, and 18 for Disorderly Conduct. There were 44 traffic accidents in August resulting in 14 injuries. Finally, 21 parking tickets were issued in addition to one boat launch citation.

Legislature to Pass Bill for Secret Successors

9/21/09 - The Legislature is getting ready to pass a bill that allows lawmakers to designate secret successors. The bill would allow each legislator to name three to seven successors. They would come into play if an enemy attack leaves nine or more vacancies in the Senate or 25 or more vacancies in the Assembly. The bill also would allow the Legislature to meet at a temporary state capital of its choosing. Right now the governor picks the temporary seat of government. If lawmakers can't physically meet they could hold virtual meetings. The Senate and Assembly are poised to take up the measure Tuesday.

Powerball at $129M

9/21/09 - The Powerball jackpot is up to 129-million dollars for Wednesday night. Nobody won the top prize on Saturday, and nobody from Wisconsin won the 200-thousand dollar second prize, either. This is the sixth time this year the jackpot has been above 100-million-dollars. The year’s top prize was just under 260-million, won in South Carolina on August 19th. Wednesday night’s cash option is 66-million – which goes to a single winner who takes the whole prize now instead of in 30 annual installments.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Top Stories, September 20th

BD Council Considers Wastewater Contracts

9/20/09 - The Beaver Dam Common Council will move forward with several resolutions tomorrow that pave the way for major upgrades and expansions of the city’s wastewater treatment facility. Beaver Dam was been awarded $20 million in stimulus money last month. Beaver Dam plans to expand their outdated wastewater treatment plant and incorporate green technology into the upgrade. Alderpersons tomorrow will consider a professional services contract with Applied Technologies for construction services at a cost of $964,000. The contract for the actual construction could be awarded to low-bidder C.D. Smith of Fond du Lac, whose total base bid was $16.8 million. Half of the $20 million is an outright grant while the other half is a low-interest, tax-free loan. The plan will allow the city to pre-treat waste from Kraft Foods and convert it to biogas which will be used to generate electricity, saving the city about a quarter million dollars a year in electricity costs. In addition, Alliant Energy will buy surplus electricity from the city, estimated at another quarter million dollars annually. Beaver Dam got one-fifth of the $106 million allotted the state in recovery funds for wastewater construction projects, which is intended to create jobs and stimulate local economies. This new green approach will allow the city to keep utility bills below $40. A 2007 facilities plan to upgrade the sewer treatment plant would have increased sewer bills from the current $37 a month to nearly $50. The project should be complete by the end of next year.

Dodgeland Superintendent/ School Board Set Goals

9/20/09 - The new superintendent of the Dodgeland School District says the goal for the upcoming school year is student achievement. District Administrator Annette Thompson says she is working with the school board to promote four primary initiatives. She says it is about making certain students have what they need, that staff responds to student needs in a timely manner and that there is collaboration between students, staff and the board. Finally, the fourth area of focus is the board’s long term goals related to facilities, maintenance and the budget which Thompson says is needed to achieve academic objectives. The goals will be discussed in more details when the school board meets a week from tomorrow.

Tea Party Injury

9/20/09 - The latest "tea party" rally draws a crowd of eight to 10 thousand to a lakefront park in Milwaukee, leaving one man injured. People at the rally say they are protesting runaway government spending. Similar rallies have been held around the country to protest tax policies under the Obama administration, growing government spending and bailouts for struggling businesses. A 50 year old man was injured in the fight that broke out late Saturday afternoon. He was taken to a Milwaukee hospital with face lacerations. Last weekend thousands of demonstrators showed they were fed up with government spending by marching on the U.S. Capitol.

Reciprocal Agreements Coming To An End

9/20/09 - Starting in 2011, Wisconsin residents working in Minnesota will have to file income tax returns in both states. The neighboring states have had a reciprocal agreement for more than 40 years, letting taxpayers who live on one side of the border and work on the other to file their one return in the state where they live. Minnesota is pulling out of that arrangement at the end of the year. It says it has to wait too long to get its money. That delay is usually nearly a year and a half as the agreement stands now. When it goes away, Minnesota officials say they will generate more than 130 million dollars over a two-year period because it will get the money quicker. An estimated 57 thousand Wisconsin residents work in Minnesota.

Food Price Dip

9/20/09 - Food prices have gone down in the past year, but they’re still much higher than they were two years ago. Brandon Scholz with the Wisconsin Grocers Association says the impression that the grocery business is recession proof is untrue, with prices up nearly five percent from where they were just two years ago. Scholz says lower fuel prices have helped to bring prices down about one-percent so far this year. However, food producers have raised prices and some have reduced package sizes, in order to protect profits.

Neenah Police Seek Fatal Hit and Run Suspect

9/20/09 - Since they have video and witnesses, Neenah police are pretty sure they're going to catch the man driving a van that hit and killed a woman, then drove away. It happen in a Wal-Mart parking lot late Friday night. Those witnesses say the woman was walking into the store to do some shopping when she was hit and dragged for about 200 feet. Police say there is no way the driver didn't know what was happening. Cops are advising him to turn himself in. The witnesses say the driver was a middle-aged man who was seen smoking shortly before the fatal accident. The woman's name hasn't been released.

MPD Officer Accused of Shooting At Wife

9/20/09 - Former Milwaukee police officer Jack Kasprzak is accused of trying to shoot his estranged wife. The incident happened last Monday. Investigators say Kasprzach showed up at her home that day, but she said she couldn't talk because she had to go to work. When she refused to let him in, she says he fired a shot into the house using his rifle. Kasprzak is charged with recklessly endangering safety and endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon. He's also charged with shooting at two nearby homes when he spotted neighbors looking out of their windows.

Historic Capone Property For Sale

9/20/09 - If you have a little more than two and a half million dollars, you could buy a piece of history in northern Wisconsin. It's a scenic, 400-acre site near Couderay. There's a bar and restaurant and a lot of Northwoods acreage. It's also the former hideout of mobster Al Capone. The property includes guard towers and a stone house with walls 18 inches thick. Legend has it that airplanes landed on the 37-acre lake, carrying bootlegged booze that was loaded on trucks and shipped to Chicago. Chippewa Valley Bank foreclosed on the land and is offering it for sale. Capone owned it in the late 1920s and early 1930s during the Prohibition years.

Kennedy Holds Open Door Meeting

9/20/09 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy will hold another one of his regular open door meetings on Tuesday. Kennedy says city residents are invited to meet with him, one-on-one, without appointment on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Kennedy says he feels it is important that constituents have the opportunity to speak with him the day after each regular meeting of the common council. Kennedy says he feels it is necessary to make himself available to constituents as often as possible. The meetings are held in Room 109 on the first floor of City Hall from 10am until noon. Kennedy says he also make himself available for private meetings by appointment by contacting the mayor office.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Top Stories September 19th

Amtrak Station in Columbus to be Upgraded

9/19/09 - The Columbus Amtrak Station will be getting an upgrade in the next few months. Around $100,000 in Federal stimulus funds have been designated to bring the Columbus train depot into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The improvements will be in place by next spring. Although the stimulus funds are not as generous as the $500 to $600 thousand dollars earmarked for rebuilding the Tomah Amtrak station in western Wisconsin, Columbus Amtrak officials say their facilities will be looking much friendlier in 2010.

National Guard Troops Continue Mission in Iraq

9/19/09 - Wisconsin National Guard troops have completed a major mission in Iraq. The final detainees were transferred Thursday from Camp Bucca near the Kuwaiti border to other facilities, under an agreement with Iraq’s government. Guard soldiers from Janesville to Marinette made the transfers, while others were involved in guard duty at Camp Bucca. Lieutenant Colonel Tim Donovan says some units from Wisconsin are remaining at the camp for various support and security functions – and others have moved to other detention facilities. The work involves members of Wisconsin’s 32nd Red Arrow Brigade. About 32-hundred brigade members have been serving at a half-dozen bases in Iraq. Their one-year tours of duty are scheduled to wrap up in January.

Two Flu Shots will be Needed this Fall

9/19/09 - Plan on getting two flu shots this fall. State officials expect the vaccine for the H-1-N-1 swine flu to arrive in late October. But in the meantime, Health Services secretary Karen Timberlake says you should not forget about getting a shot to prevent the normal winter flu. Officials say there’s plenty of seasonal flu vaccine on hand. Annual shots are needed since the winter flu strains are different each year.

Merc Managers Suing Company

9/19/09 - About 100 managers at Mercury Marine say their bosses are refusing to pay seven-million-dollars in bonuses they were promised. Now, they’re suing the top executives of the Fond du Lac company for 10-and-a-half million – which includes punitive damages. The lawsuit was first filed in Fond du Lac County by a manager at a facility in North Carolina. But the managers have since asked the Federal Court in Green Bay to take the case. About 70-percent of the plaintiffs live in Wisconsin. According to the lawsuit, Mercury promised the bonuses in April of last year – and the amounts would be determined by how much their employees saved in operating costs. The managers said they were expecting a combined seven-million-dollars at the end of the year. But Mercury decided not to pay them. The company said its parent firm, Brunswick, did not pay bonuses to any managers due to the weak economy.

Portage Man in Custody After Chase Friday Morning

9/19/09 - The man who led authorities on a chase early yesterday morning is in custody. That’s according to Dodge County Patrol Captain Molly Soblewski. She says Columbia County asked for their assistance in pursuing a Portage man who was riding a motorcycle. Deputies say the motorcycle apparently ran out of gas and the rider ditched it on County Trunk F in the Town of Fox Lake before taking off on foot into a nearby field. They were unable to find him at the time but did take him into custody later yesterday morning. He’s being held in the Columbia County Jail pending charges. He will most likely not face any charges in Dodge County.

Oshkosh Man Ordered to Stand Trial in Death of Baby’s Death

9/19/09 - An Oshkosh man is expected to plead innocent September 29th to charges that he killed a 10-week-old baby in Appleton. 25-year-old David Reimer has been ordered to stand trial in Outagamie County on charges of reckless homicide and causing felony child abuse. Experts testified that young Logan Boyer had a blunt force injury to his head, and 21 fractures to his back ribs. Authorities said Reimer began caring for the child May 17th, and he called for help the next morning when the baby seemed to be listless. He died three days later. Forensic pathologist Douglas Kelley did not say what might have caused the brain injury. And public defender Thomas Zoesch told the Appleton Post-Crescent recently that authorities tend to focus on the last person to see a child, and ignore others who may have caused a baby’s injuries. Prosecutors said they waited until August to file their charges, to make sure they had solid medical evidence to win their case.

Barrett’s Hand May Have Permanent Damage

9/19/09 - Doctors have told Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett the damage to his right hand will be permanent. Barrett told reporters yesterday he'd completed the dental work he needed after he was assaulted outside State Fair Park last month. Barrett had a bridge with two teeth replaced and a third tooth capped. He'd been hit in the stomach and the head by a man wielding a tire tool. Anthony Peters has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental defect to charges of first-degree reckless injury, theft, disorderly conduct and bail jumping. Barrett got a lot of positive attention for stopping Peters' attack on a relative. He has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor, though he hasn't indicated if he will run yet.

Ziegelbauer Removed from Ways and Means Committee

9/19/09 - State Representative Bob Ziegelbauer is a Democrat who often votes with Republicans. He says his vote on an abortion question has cost him the chairmanship of the Wisconsin Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Ziegelbauer calls this is a case of "hyper-partisan" politics. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan's office has confirmed the change, but wouldn't give a reason. Ziegelbauer says it's because he voted to prohibit payments to hospitals for late-term abortions. Both Ziegelbauer and Sheridan are Democrats.

Unemployment Figures Bring Some “Good News”

9/19/09 - State labor analysts say there’s at least some good news in the unemployment figures released this week. The percentage of jobs lost in Wisconsin over the last year is smaller than in recent months. And the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate went down for the first time since last May. State labor economist Dennis Winters says folks should not read too much into one month’s figures. And it will still be awhile before the job market rebounds, since there’s normally a lag between the time the economy recovers and the time the jobs come back. The state’s actual jobless rate for August was eight-point-four percent, down for the third straight month. The seasonally-adjusted rate was eight-point-eight percent, down from nine in July. The number of jobs lost in Wisconsin over the last year netted 112-thousand. And it was the 16th straight month of year-to-year job losses, bringing the state’s total job level to where it was 11 years ago.

Fall River Sorghum Fest Today

9/19/09 - The annual Sorghum Festival will be held today at Savanna Oaks. The event features a wide variety of activities for both kids and adults, including music, food and even a sorghum cook-off. Children’s activities include face painting, storytelling and crafts. Sorghum Fest is held at Savannah Oaks, on Highway 16 and 100 Savanna Road, right across from the Village of Fall River, beginning at 8am. Admission is $5 for adults and free to those under age 16.

Now That’s Love

9/19/09 - Instead of winning his wife back, Justin Larson is going to have to answer shoplifting charges. Larson was arrested in River Falls last week when he reportedly tried to leave a clothing store wearing some women's apparel. Store workers spotted him as he walked out the door wearing a mini-skirt and a bikini. When police stopped him they found another bikini and bra in his pocket. Larson told cops he was taking the items to try to smooth things over with his wife.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Top Stories, September 18th

BDPD Compliance Check Results in Three Citations

9/18/09 - The Beaver Dam Police Department conducted alcohol compliance checks at 18 drinking establishments Wednesday night. Deputy Chief Dan Schubert says three businesses were cited. The Cellar on Rowell Street and Casa Mora on South Center were issued citations for selling alcohol to minors. In addition, a bartender at the Cellar was cited for not having a valid server’s license. Neither establishment was open during a previous compliance sweep, which resulted in warnings to nine of the 32 liquor establishments checked. Applebee’s on North Spring Street was given a warning during the last sweep, and Wednesday night was also issued the citation. The citations will be referred to the city’s Administrative Committee at which time demerit points could be given to the businesses under an ordinance that was recently adopted by the common council. Once a business gets a certain number of points, their liquor license could be suspended or even revoked. Because this is the first time the demerits could be assigned to an offending establishment, it is unknown what the exact process will be.

Zapotockny Names EOC Director

9/18/09 - The next Emergency Operations Director for Columbus has been named. Councilman Tyler Walker presented the report from the EOC Ad Hoc committee naming former Councilman and EOC Director Bob Zapotocny to the post. Walker praised Zapotockny for his past efforts working on Emergency Management in the City. The EOC Ad Hoc committee has been working with Interim Director Gerald Sallman and Assistant Director Zapotockny since last February updating Emergency Operations procedures for the City and redefining the role of EOC Director. Now that the new EOC plan is in place, the Ad Hoc committee will be disbanded. Administrator Boyd Kraemer assured citizens that plans are in place to respond to any possible area Emergency occurring between October, when the interim contracts expire, and January when Zapotockny begins the $4,000 per year post. The Common Council praised the EOC plan updates and welcomed Zapotockny back as Director.

Dodgeland Ratifies Teachers Contract

9/18/09 - For the first time in nearly a quarter-century, teachers in the Dodgeland School District have started the school year with a contract in place. The school board this week ratified the three-year contract which includes a 3.8% increase for 77 certified employees; that includes teachers, counselors and other staff members. On August 27, the Dodgeland Education Association signed off on the contract. A tentative contract was unanimously approved by the school board this week and after some minor language changes are made the document will be back for a final vote at an upcoming meeting. Superintendent Annette Thompson says it was a wonderful way to start the school year.

Unemployment Dips

9/18/09 - Wisconsin’s unemployment rate dropped in August for the third month in a row. But the new un-adjusted rated of eight-point-four percent is still the highest for an August since 1983. Also, the state had 112-thousand fewer jobs than the year before. That’s a percentage loss of three-point-eight – a slightly larger loss than in July. Factories cut a net of almost 50-thousand jobs in Wisconsin since last August. Even so, the state’s jobless rate is one-point-two percent less than the national rate of nine-point-six percent. State Workforce Development secretary Roberta Gassman touted the lower unemployment and said there were signs elsewhere of an economic turnaround. Still, she said her agency was committed to helping those out of work while keeping the economy moving forward.

Probation For Teen Burglars

9/18/09 - Three teens have been sentenced to probation for burglarizing a friend’s house. Eric Wenninger, Zachary Mittag and Race Ranta were also recently ordered to pay $3100 in restitution. The three 17-year-old’s, and another minor, used a key under a doormat to enter a Town of Rubicon home and steal a computer, a guitar and several DVDs. They had called their unsuspecting friend first to make sure no one was home. When authorities started asking questions, the group drove into the country and ditched the stolen goods along the side of the road. Wenninger, Mittag and Ranta all had felony burglary counts dismissed and plead to misdemeanor theft charges.

Two Men Killed In Highway Fight

9/18/09 - Two men killed by a car while fighting on a Lafayette County highway were identified today as 32-year-old Leonard Harris and 29-year-old Avari Baker, both of Freeport Illinois. Sheriff’s deputies said the two were arguing last night in a car driven by a 32-year-old Darlington woman. She stopped on Highway 78, just north of the Wisconsin-Illinois line. And the two men got out and started to fight. Both were on the ground when another car came by and ran them over. That driver – a 33-year-old Monroe woman – was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators said she could not see the brawlers in time to avoid hitting them. Their driver – the Darlington woman – was cited for drunk driving.